George j



G. J. NEVEI-L. RETAINING AND RELEASING HOOK.

Patented Dec. 3, 1867.

gotten gram gaunt GEORGE J. NEVEIL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. 1Letters PatentlVo. 71,779, dated December 3, 1867.

IMPROVED RETAINING AND RELEASING-HO0K.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. NEVEIL, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented an Improved Retain- .ing and Releasing-Hook; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

, My invention consists of a hook, constructed as fully describedhereafter, so that it will remain firml'y attached to any object towhich it is connected, so long as the latter is not otherwise sustained,but will disconnect itself from the said object the instant the latterreceives any other support.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now proceed to describe its construction andoperation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which formsa part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is an exterior viewof my improved retaining and releasing-hook, Figure 2 a sectional view,Figure 3 a plan view, and Figure 4 a perspective'view. r w r l A ishanger, from which project three staples, a a a, and to the latter issecured a weight, b.

i a, which extends acrossthe hanger, is hung a link, 'e, and to thelower end of the latter is jointed a hook, f, of the form shown in thedrawing. The rope or chain-by which the hanger is suspended is connectedto. the staple a, the hookfis passed through an eye or staple on theobject to which the device is to be secured, and the end of the hook isintroduced into the staple a, to the position shown in fig. 1.

So long as there is any pressure upon the hook f, the end of the latterwill be maintained firmly in contact with the staple a, and the bookwill be secured in its position. When, however, the object suspendedfrom the hook receives any support, so that the hook is relieved frompressure, the weight b, by depressing the end of the hanger to which itis attached, will cause the staple'a to'be'elevated fromcontact with thehook, the latterwill be released, and will fall to the position shownin'fig. 2, when it maybe withdrawn from the eye or staple through whichit is passed.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Lettc-rs Patent- Theconstruction and arrangement of the hanger A,link e, hookif,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I have sigued my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. NEVEIL.

Witnesses:

C. B. PRICE, CnAnLns E. 'FOSTER.

This device, although applicable to many purposes,is specially adaptedfor use in connection with apparatus for lowering boats from the sidesofvessels, the hook remaining securely attached to the boat so long as thelatter is unsupported, but disconnecting itself the instant the boatrests upon the surface of the water.

